Portable laundry unit



Sept. 15, 1959 BRQGDON 2,903,873

I I PORTABLE LAUNDRY UNIT -Fiied July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y .X i-

Sept. 15, 1959 H. F. BROGDON v PORTABLE LAUNDRY UNIT Filed Jul 1, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent PORTABLE LAUNDRY UNIT Harold F. Brogdon, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Music, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application July 1, 1958, Serial No. 745,865

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-3) The present invention relates to home laundry equipment and more specifically to a portable laundry unit comprising a washing machine, tub and wringer so designed that they may be conveniently carried from place to place by the user. It is thus the general aim of the present invention to provide a portable laundry unit so designed and constructed that it is capable of washing and wringing a fairly substantial load of clothing, yet is of such design that the entire unit may be picked up and carried as conveniently as a small suitcase or port able radio, for example.

The present applicant is aware that many and varied types of portable laundry units have been proposed in the past, but in most of these devices the mechanism has simply been an undersized version of some conventional washing machine. The result has been that, al-

though the assemblies may have been somewhat smaller I and lighter than full size washers of standard design,

yet they have still been bulky and awkward to carry, and ordinarily without means whereby the operating parts of the mechanism are protected against accumulation of dirt during transport, or during idle periods of the machine in storage.

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a laundry unit of such design and construction that it is efficient in operation and convenient to use, yet so arranged that it is quite compact and easily handled when the operating parts of the unit are in position for storage or carrying. A further object of the invention is to provide the combination of a small portable laundry tub with a carrier and mounting devices whereby an automatic washing machine and wringer may be enclosed within the tub and thus entirely protected against dirt during storage or while carrying, yet may be quickly and easily mounted in operating positions with respect to the tub when the machine is ready for use. A still further object of the invention is a home laundry unit including an improved machine carrier whereby a small portable washing machine, tub and wringer may be transported from place to place on a carrier including improved retaining devices for holding the machines in position on the carrier during transport.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings attached to and forming a part of the present specification, therein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a portable home laundry unit as contemplated by the present invention, with the parts in position for storage or transport, and showing the inverted tub-cover of the assembly broken away to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the laundry machines are nested in the mounting racks therein.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the carrier panel or base plate of the assembly, showing the washing machine and wringer secured thereon by retaining means of the improved design herein disclosed.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the tub-cover of Patented Sept. 15, 1959 the same laundry unit showing the manner in which the washing machine and wringer are mounted within the tube during normal operation.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 3.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the assembly includes a base panel 10 of general flat conformation, which may be of somewhat rectangular shape (Figure 2) and provided with a carrying handle 11 mounted on one edge of the panel by a pair of offset brackets 12. The panel 10 is preferably provided with an outer face layer 13 of metal, fibreglass, plastic, or other material, decorated in any desired manner to add to the attractiveness of the assembly when in position for carrying. The inside of the panel 10 is provided with a molded plastic sheet 14 having one side contoured in a manner to provide mounting racks for the laundry machines which, as illustrated, include a portable electric washing machine 15, and a wringer 16 which is preferably designed for hand operation and is accordingly provided with a manual crank 17 having a hand knob 18 at one end and a cross pin 19 at its other end adapted to be received in an appropriate slot 21 in a coupling sleeve 22 by which the wringer rolls 23 and 24 are driven.

The racks provided for supporting the machines 15 and 16 may be variously formed, but in the preferred form of the invention the inner face sheet 14 of the panel 10 is shaped to a configuration complementary to the shape of the washing machine 15 so as to provide a washer rack 25 along one side of the panel, with the other side of the sheet 10 contoured in a configuration complementary to the contour of the wringer 16 to provide a wringer rack '26 parallel with the rack 25, but spaced therefrom. From the above it will be seen that with the parts in the position of Figure 1, the washing machine 15 and wringer 16 will be supported and nested in'the rack portions 25 and 26 respectively, where they are securely held in place by retaining means consisting of a flexible strap.

Preferably, the strap 27 has a grommet in each end, and is fastened between anchor posts 28 and 29 by latch hooks 31 and 32, each releasable by one of the spring buttons 33 and 34, in a manner well known in the art. The strap 27 thus extends transversely across both the washing machine 15 and the wringer 16 and may be released from either end. The central portion of the strap, however, passes under a bracket 35 secured to the base 10 in any appropriate manner. The bracket 35 is provided with a pressure bar 36 adjustable by a tightening screw 37 with the bar bearing against the upper surface of the strap. Thus the arrangement is such that when the ends of the strap 27 are secured to the posts 28 and 29 respectively, the strap may be simultaneously tightened over both machines by threading the screw 37 downwardly to force the pressure bar 36 against the strap and draw it tight around the upper surfaces of the machines.

Convenient operation is assured by providing the clamping screw 37 with an enlarged head 38 having a central bore sized to receive the operating end of the wringer crank 17 and provided with a cross slot 39 to be engaged by the cross pin 19 of the crank. Thus the Washing machine and wringer may be conveniently designed to completely enclose the washinginstrumental- .s

ities when the unit is in storage position of Figure 1, and to provide an operating mount for the washer and wringer when t he parts are intheir working :positions rillustrated in Figure 3. To this 'end, theitub 42 is made of 'such size and shape that its marginal :flanges 43 (which may haveaga'sket 44 therearound) arecontoure'd-ito a shape corresponding to the peripheral "edge 45 of :the base panel 10. The tub may thus be latched in place by engagement of paired latch hooks 46 on the inside'edges of the tub (Figure 3) with latch brackets 47 onone edge of the :base panel (Figure 2). 'The opposite edges of the base panel and tub are :also latched together by a manually releasable latch 48 on the outer wall of the tub, arranged to engage a latch keeper 49 on the edge of the base panel between the handle brackets 12.

- In order to place the parts of the mechanism in operating relationship, the washing machine 15 and wringer 16 are removed from the carrier panel or base panel and placed in the working positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, wherein both of these machines are held in operating position with respect to the tub 42. The washing machine is preferably held to the bottom of the tub by a plurality of suction cups 51, while the wringer is supported in the position shownby a pair of downwardly projecting mounting studs 52 extending through metal mounting brackets 53 secured to the inner walls of the tub near its rim and braced by diagonal corner members 54. The studs 52 are easily received in matching apertures in the upper and lower flanges of the brackets 53, and displacement of the wringer from the tub is prevented by a pair of U-shaped locking clips 55, each seated in an annular groove around one of the studs 52 at a point just below the upper flange of the brackets 53. The wringer handle 17 is telescoped into the couplingsleeve 22 with the cross pin l9of the handle interlocked with the slot 21 of the coupling sleeve .22 to provide a positive driving connection from the handle of the crank to the wringer rolls.

The tub 42 is also preferably provided with a drain valve 56, which includes a screw threaded fitting arranged for convenient coupling to any drain or filling hose and, as illustrated, the tub wall is offset at 57 so that the outer end of the drain fitting does not project beyond the outline of the tub walls. Paired foot portions 58 are provided, however, so that when the unit is being carried by the handle 11 and is thus in position with the base plate substantially upright, it may be placed on a [flat surface in a position to conveniently rest on the feet '58 and on the outer surfaces of the gasket 44 around the tub rim.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention accomplishes the aforestatedjobjects in that it provides a portable laundry unit which is extremely compact and convenient for carrying or storage when not in use, with the operating instrumentalities of the unit and the interior surfaces of the tub completely sealed against access of dirt, yet with the parts arranged in a manner such that they may be quickly, easily and conveniently placed in operating positions. I

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent l. A portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, a pair of laundry machines consisting of a washing machine and a wringer, together with a base member comprising a relatively fiat, generally rectangular panel with a carrying handle attached to one edge of the panel and projecting therefrom; said base member including a pair of mounting racks each individually fitted to the aforesaid laundry machines with one of said racks con- :toured .to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned washing machine and the other of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of :the aforementioned wringer, with the racks arranged on theflatpanel of the base member in generally ,parallel side-by-side relation; retaining means comprising a flexible strap extending transversely across both of said racks, with the opposite ends of the strap anchored to the base panel by latches adjacent the opposite edges of the panel and with said strap adapted to extend across the aforesaid washing machine and wringer when positioned in the mounting racks to retain said washing machine and wringer on said racks; tightening means for -the retaining strap consisting of a single clamping element positioned between the mounting racks and secured to the base panel to draw the strap tightly across the said machines; and a laundry tub of size and shape corresponding to the base member with coacting latch devices on said tub and on said base panel whereby the tub is fastened to the base panel in inverted position with respect thereto, with the rim of the tub engaging the peripheral edge 'of the .panel to completely enclose the aforesaid machines, racks, and retaining means to form -a unitary portable laundry assembly; and with mounting devices for securing said machines in operative positions with respect to the tub.

2. A portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, a pair of'laundry machines consisting of a washing machine and a wringer, together with a base member comprising a relatively fiat, generally rectangular panel with acarrying handle attached to one edge of the panel and projecting therefrom; said base member including a pair of mounting racks each individually fitted to the aforementioned laundry machines with one of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned washing machine and the other of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned wringer; with retaining means, anchored to the base member to retain said washing machine and wringer on said racks, and a laundry tub of size and shape corresponding to the base member and with coacting latch devices on said tub and on said basepanel whereby the tub is fastened to the base panel 'in inverted position with respect thereto; with the rim of the tub engaging the peripheral edge of the panel to completely enclose the aforesaid machines, racks, and retaining means to form a unitary portable laundry assembly.

3. A portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, a laundry machine with a base member comprising a relatively flat, generally rectangular panel with a carry ing handle attached to one edge of the panel and project- 'ing therefrom; said base member including a mounting rack fitted to the aforesaid laundry machine with said rack contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the machine; retaining means comprising a flexible strap extending transversely across said rack with the opposite ends of the strap anchoring to the base member by latches and with said strap adapted to extend across the aforesaid machine on said rack; tightening means for the retaining strap consisting of a single clamping element secured to the base panel to draw the strap tightly across said machine; and a laundry tub of size and shape cor responding to the base member with coacting latch devices on said tub and on said base panel whereby the tub is fastened to the base panel in inverted position with respect thereto; with the rim of the tub engaging the peripheral edge of the panel to completely enclose the aforesaid machine, rack, and retaining means to form a unitary portable laundry assembly; and with mounting devices for securing said machine in operative position with respect to the tub.

4. A'portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, a pair of laundry machines consisting of a washing machine and a wringer, together with a base member having a pair of mounting racks each individually fitted to the aforesaid laundry machines with one of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned washing machine and the other of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned wringer; retaining means to retain said washing machine and wringer on said racks; tightening means consisting of a single clamping element secured to the base member; and a laundry tub of size and shape corresponding to the base member and with coacting latch devices on said tub and on said base panel whereby the tub is fastened to the base panel in inverted position with respect thereto; with the rim of the tub engaging the peripheral edge of the panel to completely enclose the aforesaid machines, racks, and retaining means to form a unitary portable laundry assembly, and with mounting devices for securing said machines in operative positions with respect to the tub.

5. A portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, a pair of laundry machines consisting of a washing machine and a wringer, together with a base member having a pair of mounting racks each individually fitted to the aforesaid laundry machines with one of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned washing machine and the other of said racks contoured to a shape complementary to the shape of the aforementioned wringer; retaining means to retain said washing machine and wringer on said racks; and a laundry tub in inverted position with respect thereto to completely enclose the aforesaid machines, racks, and re taining means to form a unitary portable laundry assembly.

6. A portable laundry unit comprising, in combination, at least one laundry machine and a base member, with a carrying handle attached to the base member and projecting therefrom; said base member including a mounting rack individually fitted to the aforesaid laundry machine, with a laundry tub of size and shape corresponding to the base member and with coacting latch devices on said tub and on said base panel whereby the tub is fastened to the base panel in inverted position with re spect thereto; with the rim of the tub engaging the peripheral edge of the panel to completely enclose the aforesaid laundry machine and rack to form a unitary portable laundry assembly, and with mounting devices for securing said machine in operative position with respect to the tub.

Haven July 5, 1949 Walton Nov. 13, 1956 

